Portable water tower



(No Model.) 5, Sheets-Sheet 1.

' G. G. HALE.

1 PORTABLE WATER TQWHR.

No. 428,092. PhtfiIEt-Gd. May 20, 1890.

j I'NVEAIITOI @Tw Attorney (No Model.) '5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. G. HALE.

PORTABLE WATER TOWER. No. 428,092 Patented May 20, 1890.

INVENTOR Attorneys 5 Sheets Sheet 3.

Patented May 20, 1890.

WITNESSES:

j? INVENTOR Bg W AttcrncgS (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. G. 0. HALE.

PORTABLE WATER TOWER.

No. 428,092. Patented May 20, 1890.

12 WITNESSES: 1g

Attorney C" No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5; G. G. HALE.

PORTABLE WATER TOWER.

No. 428,092. Patented May 20, 1890.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: WWW

Att cmcuS ma uonms PETERS cm, mom-mum, WASNINBTON B4 c.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O. HALE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

PORTABLE WATER-TOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,092, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed July 30, 1889. serial No. 319,148.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. HALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable ater-Towers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in portable water-towers for conveniently handling a fire-hose in playing upon a fire, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a portable water-tower with an improved aerial tower of very light but strong and substantial construction, which is so constructed and arranged that it can be conveniently and easily operated by one attendant or operator standing at the base of the tower, the various manipulations of the directingnozzle for the stream of watersuch as lowering or raising the nozzle vertically to a less or greater elevation, changing its vertical inclination, or turning the same horizontally at any desired radius from the tower as its center beingeasily and quicklyaccomplished by suitable contrivances, all of which are within convenient reach of the single operator.

A further objectof my invention is to utilize a line of the ordinary flexible fire-hose to convey the stream of water to the directingnozzle, and thus avoid the use of a metallic pipe or conduit, which is objectionable, primarily, because the water is liable to freeze therein in the winter-time, such line of flexible hose affording an unobstructed direct water-way free from screws, gearing, &c., which is highly desirable in an apparatus for throwing a stream of water under verygreat press ure and at a high elevation upon a fire.

A further object of my invention is to provide a peculiar support for the line of tire-hose to the directinguiozzle, by which the line of hose is prevented from kinking or becoming twisted or wrinkled when the directingnozzle is deflected so as to throw the stream of water in a downwardly-inclined direction toward the ground.

(N0 model.)

My invention has further for its object to provide appliances and improvements in various parts, whereby efficiency in operation and convenience in manipulation are materially increased.

The first part of my invention consists of a folding tower pivoted at its lower extremity to a truck and constructed to receive within the same a metallic rigid hollow mast, which is supported by the tower and is arranged to telescope or slide longitudin allywith the same, an adjustable or movable nozzle carried by the upper protruding end of said rigid hollow mast, and a line of flexible fire-hose passing through the hollow rigid mass and connected to the directing-nozzle, suitable appliances being provided by telescoping the hollow rigid mass within the tower and for manipulating the movable directing-nozzle.

The second part of my invention consists of a contrivance for supporting the line of flexible fire-hose at the point where it bends or curves when the movable directing-nozzle is deflected downward to throw a stream of Water toward the ground, and in a device for manipulating the directing-nozzle. The nozzle proper is pivoted at or near its base, so as to turn in a vertical plane or direction, to rigid supporting-arms, which are fixed to a vertical tubular sleeve, which is fitted and supported on the upper extremity of the hollow rigid mast. This sleeve is located exteriorly of the mast, and to it is fixed a gear-wheel, with which meshes a pinion on a vertical operating-shaft, by means of which the sleeve can be turned horizontally to change the horizontal radial position of the nozzle as may be desired, said operating-shaft being fitted within a tubular shaft, which is supported on the tower proper and has a hand-wheel at its lower extremity for conveniently manipulating the two shafts, so as to rotate the nozzlecarrying sleeve horizontally. The flexible firehose is extended beyond the hollow mast between the pair of rigid arms provided for the support of the nozzle, and is connected to the latter at a point in rear of its pivot, whereby the weight of the hose and the column of water therein serves to normally turn the nozzle to a vertical position; but the operator is enabled to overcome this tendency of the hose to turn the nozzle to an upright position by means of a cable attached to the free end of the nozzle, whereby the nozzle can be turned to any desired vertical angle to direct the stream of water either upward, downward, or horizontally, as maybe desired. The support for preventing the flexible hose from kinking or wrinkling consists of a saddle, which is carried by the nozzle at or near its rear end and is curved downwardly therefrom, said saddle being thrown out of the path of the hose when the nozzle is inclined upwardly or turned to a horizontal position; but when the nozzle is deflected downward from its pivot the saddle is thrown against and in contact with the hose at the point where the bend is made therein, thus forming a support for the hose at the bend.

My invention further consists in the combinations of devices and peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

As a full and complete understanding of my invention can be had to better advantage by a detailed description thereof, I will now proceed to describe the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the tower raised to the vertical position it occupics when in use. Fig. 2 is a like view of the tower folded. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the truck of the apparatus, a portion of the tower being broken away. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tower; and Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper part of the tower to show the manner of supporting the directing-nozzle, the appliances for manipulating it, the connection of the line of flexible fire-hose, and the movable support for the latter. Fig. (3 is a detail detached view of an adjustable jack for holding the truck rigid and steady when the apparatus is in use. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the upright frame for supporting the rear end of the tower when folded and lowered.

Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw ings.

1 is the truck of my improved portable water-tower for conveniently handling a line of flexible hose in playing upon a fire. This truck is mounted upon axles 2 3, having the earryingavheels 4, and intermediate of the fore axle and truck is a fifth-wheel 5, suitable springs 6 being disposed between the axles and the ends of the truck in any suitable manner well understood by those skilled in the art of building heavy portable trucks.

7 is the foldable tower proper, which consists of a series (preferably four in number) of side pieces 7, which are arranged to form an inclosuro or space square in cross-section to receive the extensible mast, said side pieces converging longitudinally toward their upper ends, as shown. The tower is strengthened by lattice-work braces 8, secured to two opposite sides of the side pieces, and between said pieces on the two sides of the tower which are free from the braces 8 are arranged friction-rolls 9, which serve the double purpose of strengthening the tower and affording a sliding anti-friction bearing for the extensible mast. The tower is very light, but at the same time it is built "very strong and substantial, which are desirable ends in a contrivancc of this class.

The tower is carried by a stout steel shaft 10, which passes through and is firmly secured to the base thereof, and this shaft is journaled in bearings 11, carried by the upper ends of the supports or pillars 12, which are .firmly and securely bolted to the truck 1 near its front end. To the shaft 10, which constitutes the pivot on which the tower turns to assume a vertical position, is rigidly secured a toothed segment or gear 13, with the teeth of which meshes a horizontallymovable rack-bar 14, said rack-bar sliding in suitable guides on the truck and is secured or connected to the piston-rod 15 of a piston 16, which operates in a horizontal pressure cylinder 17, said cylinder beil'lg located on the truck at or near its rear end and suitably secured thereto, said rack and segment mechanism, together with the pressure-cylinder and a chemical gas-generator, constituting the means for elevating the tower.

2O designates the extensible or telescopic mast, which is arranged to slide in the tower. This mast consists of a cylindrical rigid tube 21, preferably of steel, which is housed within a jacket or casin g 22, which may be made of wood to protect said steel tube, and the jacket (or the tubular metallic mast itself when the jacket is omitted) is strengthened by means of longitmlinal ribs 23, which are arranged to ride against the friction-rollers 9 in the tower. The upper end of the tower is made very substantial by metallic plates 24, which are located and arranged to permit the extensible mast to fit snuglybetween the same, and thus prevent any undue movement or swaying of the mast when extended; but said mast is free to move between the sides of the tower, of which said plates form a part, and on these plates are secured or journaled the shafts or guide-rollers 25, over which pass the cables 26 for raising or loweringthe mast. Two of these cables are providedone on one side of the tower and the other on the opposite side thereofand each cable has one end secured to the lower end of the extensible mast, while its other end passes around one of the two winding-dru ms 27, which drums are carried at the ends of a shaft; 28, that is journaled in bearings at the pivoted end of the tower, said shaft having a crank or cranks 29 for conveniently rotating the same.

30 is the directing-nozzle, which is carried by the extensible mast at its extreme upper end. This nozzle has trunnions 31. formed ICC ITO

thereon or secured thereto near its extreme end, and these trunnions are fitted in the upper extremities of a pair of supporting-arms 32, so that the nozzle is free to turn in a vertical direction. The rigid supporting-arms are curved upwardly and forwardly beyond the upper end of. the mast, and said arms are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured at their lower ends to a horizontally'rotating vertical sleeve 33, said sleeve being fitted around the extreme upper end of the hollow rigid mast, as shown in Fig. 4.

To the lower end of the vertical sleeve is fixed a gear-wheel 34, the hub of which rests on a horizontal bracket or arm 35, that is rigidly fixed to the mast, and with said gearwheel meshes a sleeved pinion 36, journaled in the outer end of the fixed bracket or arm 35, said pinion having a squared shaft 37 secured axially thereto. This squared shaft passes through a square or angular aperture in a cap or crown-piece 38, which is fixed to the upper extremity of a vertical tubular shaft 39, which in turn is supported in any suitable manner on the tower at one side thereof and has a hand-wheel 40 or other suitable contrivance at its lower extremity for conveniently rotating the shafts 37 and 39. It is obvious when the shaft 39 is rotated by operating its hand-wheel that the square shaft 37 will rotate therewith by reason of the shaft 37 fitting snuglyin the cap or crownpiece of the hollow tubular shaft 39 and that the gear-wheel and pinion will rotate the vertical sleeve to change the horizontal direc tion of the stream thrown by the nozzle, and it is also obvious that the square shaft 37 will readily telescope within the tubular shaft when the mast is raised or lowered, the sectional shaft 37 39 thus accommodating itself without manual manipulation thereof to the extension or retraction of the mast, whereby the nozzle can be controlled when it occupies any elevation whether the mast is extended its full length or only partly extended or housed within the tower proper.

41 designates the line of flexible fire-hose of the ordinary kind, or it may be especially prepared by covering it with asbestus, &c., with a view to resisting the action of fire should the flames escape from the burning building or structure and surround the tower when the apparatus is in use. This flexible hose 41 is connected to the rear end of the nozzle-as, forinstance, by means of a coupling 42a nd said hose passes between the rigid supporting-arins for the nozzle and through the hollow metallic mast and the tower, the lower extremity of the hose being connected to a water-chest 43, carried by the truck 1.

44 is the saddle, which is carried by the movable nozzle and constructed and arranged to support the flexible hose at the bend therein when the nozzle is turned to a horizontal or down wardly-inclined position. This saddle, which is made of metal, is preferably made separate from the nozzle and provided with a rib 45, by meansof which the saddle is rigidly bolted to the lower side of the nozzle. The saddle is curved or made segmental in cross-section to snugly fit against the hose and provide a firm support therefor, and said saddle is curved longitudinally, as shown, whereby the saddle is thrown or arranged at one side of and out of contact with the hose when the nozzle is turned to a vertical position. WVhen, however, the nozzle is deflected from its vertical position or turned to a horizontal or downwardly-inchned position, the curved saddle is thrown against and receives the hose, so as to support the latter at the bend or angle, and thus prevent the same from kinking or wrinkling, as will be readily understood.

The weight of the hose and the column of water therein is sufficient to turn the nozzle to an upright position, and in order to enable the operator to readily control the vertical movement of the nozzle, so that the angle of presentation of the nozzle to the fire can be varied at pleasure, I have provided a cable 46, which is attached to the nozzle at or near its outer end and extends to the base of the tower, so that it can be readily and easily grasped by the operator. It will thus be seen that the various appliances provided for pro jecting the mast beyond the tower after the latter has been raised, for turning the nozzle horizontally, and for changing the vertical position or angle of the nozzle are all arranged at the base of the tower and within reach of an attendant, who is thus enabled to manage the apparatus and change the position of the nozzle, according to the location of the fire.

The tower proper is very rigidly and firmly supported on the truck, and the position of the nozzle only is changed,which, as before stated, can be easily and quickly accomplished by a single man, which is highly advantageous over the ordinary apparatus, in which the tower is mounted on a horizontally-1novable turn-table supported on a truck, to adjust which turn-table and the tower carried thereby requires the combined efforts of a number of men. Besides, such a tower is liable to sway or move; but my tower is held very firmly and rigidly in position. v

To the upper extremity of the mast, above the vertical horizontally rotatable sleeve which carries the nozzle, is fixed a cap or crown-piece 49, which serves to prevent up ward play or displacement of the sleeve, and thus the gear-wheels constantly mesh or gear with each other. This cap is provided at its upper end with a flaring or bell-shaped mouth 49, in which the hose is free'to play back and forth when the nozzle is adjusted or its position changed.

In constructing a very high tower I contemplate providing a coun ter-balance for the line of flexible hose and the column of water 0011- tained therein, in order to prevent too great va strain on the coupling intermediate of the nozzle and hose and the supporting contrivances for the nozzle. In the embodiment of my invention shown herein this counter-balance comprises .two coiled springs 50, which are arranged within the mast between the latter and the hose, one end of the springs being connected to the hose and the opposite ends to the mast, as shown in Fig. 5. These springs serve to take up the weight of the hose and column of water contained therein, and thus relieve the coupling, the pivots, and other supconditions from the other side into the flexiblc pipe-line that runs through the tower and connects with the directing-nozzle. This water-chest has a Siamese connection 51 at its receiving side, by which the streams from two or three engines can be delivered to the water-chest, which in turn supplies the line of hose with a very powerful stream for playing upon the fire, which is highly desirable. The weight of this water-chest and its contents when the apparatus is in use serves as a balance to hold the truck in position.

The pressure-cylinder, which constitutes a part of the mechanism for raising the tower,

as heretofore described, is supplied with compressed gas, which is generated by a combination of suitable chemicals in a reservoir or tank 52, which is located at the extreme rear end of the truck 1 and supported on a platform 53, suitable contrivances being provided for holding said tank or reservoir in position.

The pressure-cylinder and chemical tank or reservoir are connected by a suitable supply-pipe having a valve, by opening which valve the compressed gas generated in the tank is admitted to the front end of the cylinder, immediately after which the piston commences its backward stroke and draws the rack-bar, which turns the segment and shaft to which the tower is attached, thus lifting the tower very quickly to a vertical position and without manual labor on the part of the attendant.

It may occur during a fire lasting quite a length of time that the tower will require to be elevated and lowered such a number of times as to exhaust the supply of chemicals contained in the tank or reservoir for generating the gas to operate the piston in the pressure-cylinder, and in order to overcome this difficulty and provide means whereby the tower can be operated by the pressure-cylinder and its piston without manual labor I have connected the water-chest and the gasgenerating tank by means of a pipe 55, having a valve 56, said pipe entering the bottom of the gas-generator. (See Fig. 3.) Should it become necessary to utilize the pressure of the water in the water-chest to operate the piston in the pressure-cylinder in order to raise the tower, the valve in the water-way intermediate of the water-chest and gas-tank is opened to admit water to the bottom of the tank, which as it ascends in the tank compresses the air therein, and thus charges the tank with compressed air instead of gas, which air will be compressed sufficiently to exert force or pressure enough on the piston in the pressure-cylinder to operate the latter in raising the tower. This operation may be repeated as often as it is necessary to raise the tower; but the apparatus is provided with a tank of such a capacity for generating sufiicient gas to meet the requirements of ordinary circumstances, and the means for compressing the air are only employed in cases of an emergency.

The tower when elevated is maintained in such position by the pressure of the gas (or air) in the pressure-cylinder against the piston, which thus draws the rack and segment into such relative positions as to hold the tower upright, and I have also provided means whereby the tower may be held in an inclined fixed position, which means consists of a cable 57, which is attached at one end to the tower, near its upper end, the other end of the cable passing around a winding drum or roller 58, located at the rear end of the truck, said drum being journaled in, suitable bearings and having pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 59 for limiting the axial movement of said drum.

Should it become desirable to hold the tower in an inclined position instead of a vertical upright position, the cable 57 is uncoiled a suitable distance from the drum to permit the tower to be elevated to the desired position by the pressure of the gas or air acting against the piston which controls the rack and segment. The pressure of the gas on the piston and the cable act against one another, and thus hold the tower in the desired position, the gas-pressure on the piston serving to lift the tower, while the cable checks the ascent of the tower beyond the limit determined by the length of the cable, which is uncoiled from the winding drum or roller.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, and I do not, therefore, deem it necessary to repeat the same here.

By constructing a tower as herein described and shown every essential advantage is attained that a water-tower of this class should have, among which may be enumerated the following: alightbut substantial aerial structure which can be expeditiously raised or lowered without manual labor, and which is very firmly and rigidly held in place; a direct water-way which is free from obstructions in order to insure the supply of a stream of water of undiminished force; to dispense with a metallic conduit or pipe in which a large column of water is stored up, and in which water is liable to freeze in the winter-time, and in lieu thereof utilize a line of ordinary fire-hose in which the water is not liable to freeze, and to. control and manipulate the directing-nozzle with ease from the base of the tower, so that the stream of water can be thrown in any direction, either vertically, in any direction of the compass, or at any desired elevation.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings I have illustrated a device for holding the truck in a rigid firm position against any side or lateral play of its supporting-springs and to accommodate the truck to any inclination of the surface on which the apparatus stands. This device consists of an extensible shank 60, one member 61 of which is connected to the body of the truck and the other member 62 is adapted to engage one of the axles of the apparatus. These members 61 62 of the shank are provided with right and left hand threads, with which engage similar threads on a rotatable adj usting-nut 63, which connects said members, and when rotated serves to simultaneously adjust the same in opposite directions. The member 62 has the rigid jaw 64, which is constructed and proportioned to fit around the axle, and the other member is pivoted, as at 65,to the body of the truck. Two of these jacks are providedone on each sideat the front end of the truck, and when said jacks are not in use they are folded or turned into horizontal position alongside of the truck, (see Fig. 2,) the free end of each jack resting on a fixed bracket 66.

To use the jacks, they are lowered to vertical positions and engaged with the front axle, (see Fig. 1,) after which the rotatable nuts are operated to draw the members together, and thus draw the truck 1 downward toward the axles, whereby the truck can be accommodated to the surface of the street and held very firmly and rigidly in a horizon-. tal position, the springs being relieved of all side play.

At the rear end of the truck is arranged vertical fixed support 67, consisting of two standards 68 and a cross-piece 69, and on this support rests the tower when it is lowered to an approximately horizontal position, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2.

I am aware that changes in the details in the construction and form and proportion of parts can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not confine myself strictly to the mechanisms herein shown and described as embodiments of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a portable water-tower, the combination of a truck, a tower pivoted on the truck to swing in a vertical plane, a hollow mast supported in the tower and extensible longitudinally with respect thereto, a line of hose which passes through said mast, a rigid ad- 3' ustable directing-nozzle carried by rigid supports which are mounted on the mast, and mechanism, substantially as described, for adjusting the rigid nozzle in either a horizontal or a vertical plane at will, as and for the purpose described.

2. A portable water-tower consisting of a truek,.a foldable tower, a mast supported in said tower and consisting of a rigid metallic tube, a directing-nozzle carried by the upper extremity of the extensible mast, and a line of hose passing through said hollow mast and coupled to the directing-nozzle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A portable water-tower consisting of a truck, a foldable tower, a hollow rigid mast supported in the tower and extensible beyond the same, a movable directing-nozzle supported on the upper extremityof the mast, and a line of hose passing through said hollow mast and coupled to the directing-nozzle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

at. A portable water-tower consisting of a truck, a foldable tower pivoted thereon and limited to movement on its pivotal connection with said truck, a toothed segment secured to the tower, a sliding rack, mechanism for moving the rack, a hollow rigid mast supported in the tower and limited to endwise movement therein, a directing-nozzle carried by the upper end of the mast and capable of both vertical and horizonal adj ustment thereon, and a line of hose passing through said mast and connected to the nozzle, substantially as described.

5. A portable water-tower consisting of a truck, a water-chest carried by the truck, a foldable tower, a hollow rigid mast supported in the tower and having means for projecting said mast beyond the tower, an adjustable directing-nozzle carried by said mast, and a line of hose passing through said hollowmast and connected at one end to the nozzle and at its opposite end to the water-chest, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a portable water-tower, the combination of a mast, a horizontally-rotatable sleeve fitted loosely on the mast, and a directingnozzle carried by said sleeve and pivoted'on rigid supports to turn in .a plane at right angles to the adjustment afforded by the sleeve, and means for operating the sleeve and the nozzle, substantially as described.

7. In a portable water-tower, the combination of a foldable pivoted tower, an extensible tubular mast supported within the tower and having its upper extremity normally projected beyond the upper end of the tower, a directing-nozzle carried by the upper end of the mast and supported by rigid devices, sub stantially as described, to adapt the same to turn either horizontally or vertically, and a line of hose passing longitudinally through the mast and coupled to the directing-nozzle, substantially as described.

8. In a portable wate1.'tower, the combination of a truck, a foldable tower pivoted thereon, a mast supported within the tower and extensible"longitudinally with respect thereto, the upright arms rigidly supported on the extensible mast at the upper extremity thereof, a nozzle pivoted on said arms and having means for operating the same, and a line of hose passing through the mast and coupled to the pivoted nozzle, substantially as described.

9. In a portable water-tower, the combination of a truck, a foldable tower pivoted thereon, an extensible mast supported within the tower, a line of hose passing through the mast, the upright arms rigidly supported on the upper extremity of the mast and extending upwardly and laterally beyond the same, and a directing-nozzle pivoted to the arms at a point beyond and substantially out of line with the mast, substantially as described.

10. In a portable water-tower, the combina tion, with a truck, of afoldable tower pivoted thereon and limited to movement on its pivotal connection with said truck, a hollow continuous mast fitted within said tower and extensible longitudinally with respect thereto, and a rigid adjustable nozzle carried by rigid devices which are mounted on the mast, and a line of hose which passes through the mast and is coupled to the directing-nozzle, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

11. In a portable water-tower, the combination of a truck, a foldable tower pivoted on the truck and carrying the extensible mast and a directing-nozzle, a segment fixed on the tower at its pivoted end, a chemical motor or engine mounted on the truck, and a rack operated by said motor and gearing with the segment, for the purpose described, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a vertical mast, a rotatable sleeve fitted thereon, rigid supportin g-arms carried by the sleeve, and a movable nozzle pivoted to the arms, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

13. In a portable water-tower, the combination, with a foldable tower and an extensible mast, of a vertical sleeve fitted loosely on the upper end of the mast and carrying an ad justable directing-nozzle, a line of hose eonneeted to the nozzle and passing freely through the mast and the sleeve, and a vertical extensible operating-shaft supported on the fold able tower and extensible mast and geared to the vertical sleeve, whereby the sleeve can be turned horizontally from the base of the tower when the mast is extended, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

14. In a portable water-tower, the combination, with a foldable tower and an extensible mast, of a vertical sleeve fitted 011 the upper end of said extensible mast and carrying an adjustable directing-nozzle, aline of hose passing freely through the mast and the sleeve and coupled to said nozzle, and a sectional extensible shaft geared to the vertical sleeve and having its respective sections supported on the tower and mast and connected to each other to turn axially by an angular socket in one member, through which socket is free to pass the other member of the shaft when the mast is projected beyond or retracted within the tower, substantially as described.

15. In a water-tower, the combination of a mast, the upright arms rigidly supported on the mast and extending upwardly therefrom, a nozzle pivoted to and arranged between the free ends of the arms, a line of hose connected to the nozzle, and acurved depending saddle secured centrally to the lower side of the nozzle in rearof its pivot, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

16. In a water-tower, the combination of a truck, a foldable tower pivoted thereon, an extensible mast having a tubular metallic core and an inc1osing-jacket provided with longitudinal ribs, a directing-nozzle carried by said mast, and a line of hose connected to the nozzle, substantially as described.

17. In a water-tower, the combination of a truck, a hollow tower having a transverse shaft secured at its lower end, the rigid supports mounted on the truck and reeeivin g the transverse shaft of the tower, the toothed segment secured to said shaft, a sliding rack geared to the segment, a hollow mast supported in the pivoted tower and carrying a directing-nozzle, and a line of hose arranged at one side of the transverse shaft and the segment, out of the path of the rack, and passing through the mast to be coupled to the directing-nozzle, all combined and arranged as and for the purpose described.

18. The combination, in a portable watertower, with a truck, a tower, a pressure-cylinder, and mechanism intermediate of said cylinder and the tower for raising the latter, of a water-chest for supplying Water under pressure to a pipe-line, a chemical gasgenerating tank, and a valved water-pipe intermediate of the water-chest and the tank, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

19. In a water-tower, the combination, with a hollow mast, a nozzle, and a line of hose which passes through the mast and is connected to the nozzle, of a supporting device for relieving the coupling between the nozzle and hose of the weight of the hose and the column of water contained therein, substantially as described.

20. In a water-tower, the combinationpvith a hollow rigid mast, a nozzle, and a line of hose, of a supporting device for relieving the coupling and nozzle of the weight of the hose and column of water therein, which consists of the coiled springs connected to said rigid mast and the hose, substantially as described.

21. In a portable water-tower, substantially as described, the combination, with a mast, of the upright supporting-arms rigidly mounted on the mast, a line of hose, and a nozzle pivoted on said arms and carrying a saddle at its rear end, which is adapted to support the hose when the nozzle is turned to a deflected or horizontal position, substantially as described.

22. In a portable water-tower,substantiall y as described, the combination, with a mast, of a pair of vertical arms rigidly mounted on the upper end of the mast, a nozzle pivoted to said arms, a line of hose coupled to the rear endof said nozzle, and a depending saddle carried by the nozzle and projecting rearwardly therefrom, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

23. In a portable Water-tower, substantially as described, an open lattice-work tower having a shaft 28 secured in its -lower end and an extensible mast surrounded by an inclosing-jacket which is fitted within the tower to slide longitudinally therein, in .combination with a nozzle carried by the mast and a line of hose passing through the mast and connected to the nozzle.

24. In a portable water-tower, substantially as described, the combination, with a pivoted tower, of a toothed segment fixed to the tower at its lower end, an endwise-movable rack geared to the segment, a pressure-cylinder having its piston-rod connected to said rack,

and a chemical motor for forcibly moving the piston in one direction within the pressurecylinder, as and for the purpose described.

25. In a portable water-tower, the combination, with a truck and a tower pivoted thereon, of a toothed segment fixed to the lower pivoted end of the tower, an endwise-movable rack geared to the segment to swing the latter and the tower in a vertical direction, a fluid-pressure cylinder having a piston to which the rack is connected, and the regulating-Valves, and a chemical gas generator or motor adapted to supply compressed gas to said pressure-cylinder to force the piston thereof in one direction to operate the rack and segment, and thereby raise the tower, as and for the purpose described.

26. In a portable water-tower, the combination of a truck, a water-chest carried thereby and having hose-connections for receiving water from several engines, a 'foldable tower mounted on the truck and carrying a directing-nozzle, and a line of hose which passes through the tower and is connected at its ends, respectively, to the water-chest and the directing-nozzle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

G. C. HALE.

Witnesses:

JEssIE RAY, W. A. ALDERSON. 

